Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "grady209"
<grady209@y...> wrote:
...
> With the 8 ink carts on the Epson 4000, I have been wondering if it
> would be possible to load one up with 2 ink sets, one quad-tone for
> b&w printing, and one color for, um, color work.
...
> First, is this possible?
yes

> If I understand properly, some of you are
> using  multiple quad sets for variable toning effects, is this any
> differnet than that?
yes, multiple quad sets means just that, they are monochromatic ink
sets, no color inks.

>  Would the color output from 4 inks be noticeably
> inferior than that from the newer 6 or 7 ink sets?
Yes, without the light M and C, you will get more visible dots, and
less fine gradations. The smaller dots of the 4000 wil minimize this
compared to the old 3000 though.

> Second, if it is possible, what does it take to do it?  Is there a
> preferable RIP for this type of thing (I am heavily commited to the
> Mac)?  Any additional tools required to profile/linearize the thing?
StudioPrint will do it. You'll also need a spectro for linearizing and
profiling, and and app for CMYK profiling, unless you get the
additional GPS profiler with StudioPrint, a higher investment.
It would be an ideal setup for tinted monochrome, in CMYK mode you'd
have a 4 part K and C, M, and Y to adjust hue, or just stay in quad
mode for straight quads. Setup for all this would not be quick and
easy, but is doable.
However it is PC only, if you are commited to the Mac, you'll have to
look at the Colorburst RIP, I don't know if you can do the above with
that. Not sure if it has such channel/ink tank assignment flexibility,
and linearizable multi part K.

> Or... should I just dedicate a re-furbed 7500 to b&w, and send the
> occasional color print to the service beureau?
Much more affordable options with that setup.
Tyler